I used to be a “seasoning packet” junkie. Store-bought packets of taco seasoning seemed so easy. But really, if you have a decently stocked spice cabinet, making your own Homemade Taco Seasoning takes just a few minutes and costs less. I’ve experimented with different combinations of spices for this seasoning over the years, and I think I’ve found the winner! One batch of this super tasty homemade seasoning is roughly equal to one store-bought packet and it’s 10 times more flavorful. You can even mix up big batches of it and store it pre-mixed in an airtight container for quick use later!
“My husband and I go through a ton of this, I make a 24x batch at a time now so I don’t have to make it every other week. Super tasty and easy!”
Catherine
Why make homemade taco seasoning?
While it’s easy to just buy a pre-made mix, making this homemade taco seasoning means I can control the ingredients, freshness, salt level, and flavor every single time. I keep the base simple with chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, oregano, salt, and pepper, so it’s warm, smoky, and spicy while giving me room to adjust as needed. I purposefully left out garlic powder and onion powder here because I usually add fresh onion and minced garlic when I’m cooking taco meat, beans, or veggies. Leaving those powders out gives me more flexibility and keeps those flavors from doubling up. Of course, that’s the great thing about homemade seasoning blends! If I’m not using fresh garlic or onions, I’ll just add ¼ teaspoon garlic powder or ¼ teaspoon onion powder to bring those flavors back in.
But above all else, the number one reason I love making this recipe at home is how much money it can save me, especially if I can get a good deal on spices in bulk! This means I can cut some costs, better control the quality of my ingredients, and still tweak the blend to fit whatever I’m cooking. That’s a budget-friendly win-win if I ever saw one!
Uses for Taco Seasoning
You can use this simple recipe anywhere you’d normally use a store-bought packet, especially in taco meat, beans, soups, rice, casseroles, and skillet dinners. This batch makes about 2¼ tablespoons, which is roughly the same as one store-bought packet. Here are a few of my favorite recipes that use this seasoning to inspire you:
- Tostadas: Taco seasoning cooks with the onion, jalapeño, pinto beans, and water, giving the mashed bean base a smoky flavor before all the fresh toppings go on!
- Burrito Bowl Meal Prep: The seasoning simmers with ground turkey or beef and a little water to create saucy taco meat for these easy make-ahead bowls.
- Baked Beef and Black Bean Tacos: I cook the seasoning with a beef and onion mixture, then add canned beans to build a savory filling for my crunchy baked tacos!
- Taco Rice: Swap this homemade seasoning in place of the chili powder, cumin, and oregano to season the rice as it toasts with the onion and garlic, giving you a budget-friendly base for burrito bowls or tacos.
- Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas: Taco seasoning gets mixed right into the black bean, corn, and cheese filling, so every quesadilla is flavorful before it even hits the skillet.
Variations & Ingredient Swaps
Here are a few substitutions and add-ins you can use to customize your taco seasoning to fit your budget and supplies:
- Cornstarch. If you like your taco meat to have a slightly saucy consistency, add ½ tsp cornstarch to the spice mix, then stir in ⅓ cup water when you add the seasoning to the skillet. The cornstarch thickens the water as it simmers, creating a light taco-flavored sauce that helps the spices coat the meat or beans instead of staying dry.
- Make it mild. If heat isn’t your jam (this seasoning does have a spicy kick to it!), simply reduce the cayenne or leave it out for a milder blend. Chili powder can also vary quite a bit from brand to brand, so if you’re using a new one or cooking for spice-sensitive eaters, I’d start with a little less (½ Tbsp) and add more after tasting.
- Smoked paprika: I really think smoked paprika is worth using here because it adds a deep, smoky flavor that makes this blend taste closer to a store-bought taco packet. A little goes a long way because the smoke flavor is concentrated. Regular paprika will still add color and mild paprika flavor, but the final blend will taste a little softer and less smoky.
- Low sodium. Feel free to reduce the salt content to meet your sodium needs. Just keep in mind that salt helps the other spices taste more pronounced, so a lower-sodium version may taste a little softer overall.
- Garlic powder and onion powder. When I make taco meat, I generally add a diced onion and a clove or two of minced garlic, so I didn’t include any garlic powder or onion powder in this mix. If you’re not using the fresh stuff, add ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, or both. Some readers add both even with fresh garlic and onion, so this is an easy place to adjust the blend to taste!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Equipment
- Small Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp chili powder $0.30
- 1 tsp smoked paprika $0.10
- 1 tsp ground cumin $0.10
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper $0.02
- ½ tsp dried oregano $0.05
- ½ tsp salt $0.05
- ½ tsp black pepper freshly cracked, (about 15 cranks of a pepper mill) $0.05
Instructions
- Combine everything in a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container, away from heat and sunlight, until ready to use.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
How Much Taco Seasoning to Use:
This recipe makes about 2¼ tablespoons of taco seasoning, which is roughly equal to one store-bought seasoning packet. Use the full batch to season about 1lb. of ground beef, turkey, or chicken, or about 3 cups of cooked beans. If you scale the recipe up for bulk storage, use ~2 tablespoons of seasoning per 1lb. of meat.How to Use:
Use one batch of taco seasoning to season about 1 lb. of ground meat, 3 cups cooked beans, chicken, potatoes, or roasted veggies. For ground meat, brown it first, then add the seasoning and sauté for about 2 minutes to toast the spices. For beans, stir in the seasoning and heat through. For chicken, potatoes, or veggies, sprinkle the seasoning evenly over the surface before cooking or roasting. This is a small batch recipe, so it’s unlikely you’ll have much leftover. If you do, stir it into mayonnaise or sour cream for a quick taco-flavored sauce, sprinkle it over roasted vegetables, or add a pinch to scrambled eggs for extra smoky-spicy flavor.Nutrition
how to make Homemade Taco Seasoning step-by-step photos
Gather all of your ingredients: Add 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper to a small bowl, about 1-2 cups in size. You want to use a bowl with enough room to stir so the spices don’t puff over the sides. The type of bowl doesn’t really matter since you’re only mixing dry spices, but I usually use a glass or ceramic bowl because that’s what I have on hand.
Combine the taco seasoning: Stir the spices together with a fork or small whisk, mixing gently so the fine spices stay in the bowl. Keep mixing until the color looks evenly red-brown and there are no little pockets of spice left unmixed.
Use the seasoning right away, or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to season tacos, beans, veggies, or your favorite Tex-Mex recipe.
How to Store
As with any dried herb or spice, this seasoning mix should be stored in an airtight container and away from heat and direct sunlight. The lifespan of this seasoning will vary depending on the freshness of the herbs and spices you used to make this seasoning blend. Rather than going “bad”, dried herbs and spices slowly lose their flavor and potency over time, so for best results, it’s recommended to use them within one year.
Try These Taco-Inspired Dinner Recipes Too:
- Taco Salad is a great way to turn boldly flavored ground beef into a fresh, crunchy meal with lettuce, beans, cheese, tortilla chips, and ALL the toppings!
- I use this seasoning blend in Beef Taco Pasta to flavor ground beef, tomatoes, pasta, and cheese for a saucy one-pot dinner with big taco-night flavor.
- My Taco Soup takes these warm, smoky spices in a cozy direction with beans, corn, tomatoes, ranch seasoning, and a creamy finish.
More Easy Taco Recipes
Our Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe was originally published 2/19/12. We have updated it to be the best it can be and republished 5/27/26.
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